Gravity Check
So much has passed since the last check in. World Champs, World Cups, EWS Rounds, Crankworx Whistler. A busy time in mountain biking by any means and it is fantastic that we get so many good events in such a short space of time. But it is frustrating that it’s another 7 months until coverage of a combined group of riders pushing the limits are beamed into lives without curation, raw footage of talent and emotion shown live without the pretence of over-thought Instagram captions.
That our feeds have been so punctuated with action underpins the feeling that our sport is going through a genuine growth period. Those not new to the sport will remember we’ve been here before, having risen on the back of big TV deals and clever marketing in North America, the sport was delivering dollars to athletes’ pockets, and in turn creating big characters that would captivate all who tuned in. Heros and villains fulfilled their roles to perfection, Vouilloz against Peaty, Peaty against France, Palmer against everyone. Characters that grew to be bigger than the sport itself at times, sharing a passion for testing themselves against the best in the world, laying down the pathway for others to follow, and follow they did.
One of my earliest memories as a fresh-faced junior joining the National DH team in Europe was travelling with the squad from Les Gets in France after the World Champs to Livigno in Italy for the World Cup Final. The rentals were filled with the echelon of what was the current DH World Cup roster as Australia was having a particularly good year that year. It would take less than an hour before a small but potent firework battle broke out between the vehicles within the confines of Switzerland’s vast tunnel network. Scott Sharples (head coach at the time) made his feelings well known about how quickly we could all be sent home, including the senior roster. To a starry eyed junior, there was nothing more exciting than what I was doing right there and then.
This story, like so many others for many of the Australian mountain bike community carries extra significance these past couple of months, amid all the craziness that is the World Cup and Enduro World Series calendar, it’s moments outside the racing these past months that has helped bring into focus what is truly important. Two people that featured prominently in that short story of mine, and who would have featured in an immeasurable amount of people’s lives, not just other Australians but so many around the world either through their efforts on a bike, or in support of others who were involved in bike racing is Paul Begg and Jared Graves.
These guys at times have had the ability to transcend the sport they love, true characters that have helped guide so many to pursue what they love and share the passion they have for our sport with others. No doubt they are going through hard times at the moment, each with their own personal battle against an illness that clearly has met its match. The battles they face may not be on the mountain bike in the near future, but the MTB community is here to support in whatever way we can, as we owe so much to these two that have shared so much with us.
Can’t wait to hit the trails soon with both you guys.